The Real Neverland

I am a bit upset that the late Michael Jackson used the name Neverland for his amusement park. I thought the name Neverland which was used for the magical land that J. M. Barrie created in his infamous book, Peter Pan had the place down pat. In the novel as well as the subsequent Walt Disney film adaptation, had Neverland as a place where the inhabitants were known as the "lost boys" whose credo was they would never grow up.

Believe it or not, we have a real life Neverland today - and it is not the Michael Jackson amusement park. No, this Neverland is much more real and you don't need pixie dust to get there. In this Neverland the "lost boys" have become just the "lost". The lost will eschew all authority, rebuke religion, embrace nihilism and adopt hedonism. In short, this is today's Neverland.

From someone growing up in the 60's I fully understand young people in a counter culture environment. There was vigorous rebellion against the war (Viet Nam), against government( mostly Nixon), and against authority in general. Oh, don't forget this one - "Never trust someone over 30.". The difference between today and the 60's, is back then the Hippies, even the "Yippies", believed in something. They knew they existed for a purpose greater than themselves. I have seen how today's counter culture young people live - what they read, the music listened to, the shows attended. The life style defies logic or understanding. Cynically and deliberately, they live on the edge without margin. Filth permeates everyone and everything. Sleep all day, party all night, listen to music whose negativity becomes a tool to attack the very soul of joy and optimism. Wear all black, have numerous piercings and have tattoos adorning most of the body.

For those in the faith, the enemy has taken up a major encampment in that environment. There are enormous ministry opportunities that beacon. However, the battle will not be easy as the ground will not be given up easily. Most churches that I know of do not even bother with the lost and tattered that dwell here.

The next time you see one of the "lost" walking the streets of Uptown (or just there about) think of how lost they really are.